“What are you going to be studying?” I ask, in an attempt to stop the conversation from imploding.
She sighs. “Nursing and midwifery.”
“Your aunt’s a doctor, right?” She nods. “One of my brothers is too.”
“One of your brothers? How many do you have?”
“Four.”
“Are any of them single?”
I try not to look surprised at how forward she is. Maybe it’s the alcohol.
“Laney!” Ben says, his voice sharp with warning.
“What?” she replies with a shrug. “I’ve got a thing for older guys.”
She glances at me and throws a wink my way, and I quickly avert my gaze, recognizing the jab for exactly what it is.
“Wyatt’s the only single one, and he spends most of his time in Phoenix with the Arizona Cardinals,” I say quietly.
Her head flicks around to look at me. “The Arizona Cardinals?”
I nod. “Wyatt’s a linebacker for them.”
“No way! Your brother is Wyatt Brookes?”
I laugh. “The one and only.”
She looks across at Ben. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She looks back at me. “Dad is a massive Cardinals fan. Always has been.”
I turn to look at him. “You never said.”
He shrugs sheepishly. “I didn’t want to come across as a fan boy.”
“But you met Wyatt on Christmas Eve.”
“You’ve met Wyatt Brookes?” Laney exclaims.
“Are you a football fan too?” I ask her.
“I’m a hot football player fan. Wyatt Brookes is sexy as hell.”
“Jesus Christ,” Ben mutters, and I can’t help but laugh.
“You know, one of the guys who works behind the bar looks like Wyatt, except he’s covered in ink.”
“That would be my other brother, Seb. Wyatt’s twin,” I tell her.
“Holy fuck!”
“Language, Laney,” Ben says, shaking his head.
Laney waves off his chastise. “Are your other brothers as hot as Wyatt and Seb?”
I grimace. “Well, they’re my brothers, so...”
“Hmmm, four hot guys should make family get-togethers interesting. Assuming I’m invited, of course.”
